Guide: Joe "Roadee" Dawson
Editor/Design: Allan "Zardon" Campbell

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Whenever working on any electrical device, always make sure that it is unplugged. Removing the cover on an Optical drive voids the warranty, and should only be done at your own risk. DH and its staff are not responsible for any injury or damage that may be incurred during and/or after performing this modification.

Well, it is that time again, time for another installment in the Guides forum. This time we are trying something a bit on the Novice to Advanced level. But don’t get nervous or start having any doubts, only the tools that need to be used is what makes this achieve that level. I am going to show you how to change out a LED on an optical drive, and since this will require soldering the LED to the PCB, I feel that it is a bit more than a Beginner task, yet not out of reach at any rate. If you can do this mod, then you can have the pleasure of being a Novice computer modder, and have something pretty neat to show your friends.

Tools Needed
• Small Philips Screw Driver
• Small Flat Head Screw Driver
• Silver Solder, for fine electronics (.032” diameter)
• Solder Wik, for removing solder
• Soldering Iron (stick type)
• 2 Soldering tips, 1 wide, 1 thin pointed
• Soldering Station w/sponge
• Small Wire Snip’s or Nail Clipper’s
• 3mm or 5mm LED (your choice of color)

For this guide I decided to change out my green LED for a blue LED on my LiteOn DVD drive. Since all applications are pretty similar when it comes to changing out the LED’s, this guide will help you in changing out LED’s on most anything that has them.

So, first things first, time to make sure that your computer is turned off and that the power is shut off on the PSU or that it is unplugged. Next, open your case so that you are able to disconnect the wiring to the drive and remove it from the case.

Once removed, you will need something small, like a paper clip, to put in the hole (shown) to open up the drive tray. Once the tray is open, remove the front door panel end. Most of the doors remove much the same way, by pulling out on the bottom of it while sliding it up.

Next you will need to use your flat head screw driver to push in the small plastic tabs on the sides and bottom of the drive. Once you have them depressed and separated take the drive in both hands and with the part of the face plate that is pulled out, facing down, press up on the face plate to remove it from the latches. Then pull it free from the drive.

 

 

Next: Continued

 

Select 1. Page 1 2. Page 2 3. Page 3